Comedians ready to stand up

November 09, 2008|JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO Tribune Staff Writer

When Brett Eastburn begins his comedy set, it's common to hear at least someone in the crowd whisper, "That's not funny." It's rarely a commentary on Eastburn's material. You see, the 37-year-old Tyner, Ind., resident was born without arms and legs, and he often turns his quick wit on the subject. "A lot of people come up and say, 'What happened to you?' " Eastburn says by telephone from Chicago's O'Hare airport. "Sometimes, I'll tell them the truth. I was born this way. It's no big deal. Sometimes, I'll have fun. 'I was swimming in the ocean and all of a sudden I heard da na, da na na (imitating the theme from 'Jaws')." Eastburn, who may be best known for the inspirational speeches he gives all around the world, will join Elkhart residents Jack Hull and John Osborne on Friday for "Class Clown Comedy" at South Bend's Century Center. Hull and Osborne, both 32, teach a stand-up comedy class Thursdays at Riverside Tavern in Mishawaka, and an improv class Mondays at Century Center. In 2001, Osborne, after being prodded by friends and family, entered the "Funniest Person in Michiana" contest at the Funny Bone. Although it was the first time he had been onstage, he beat out 28 others to win the title. "After that, even my wife was saying, 'Maybe you should do this,' " Osborne says. Hull, who had been taking sketch comedy writing classes at Second City in Chicago, saw Osborne doing stand-up and decided to take the plunge as well. "I had always been a fan of stand-up," Hull says. "As a kid, I was always watching things I shouldn't have been watching -- Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor." Eastburn says his journey into stand-up comedy isn't much different. "During my speeches someone from the crowd would always say, 'You should do comedy,' " Eastburn says. "So I did. People always want to know how somebody reacts to me, and comedy just allows me to answer that in a funny way." Eastburn's one-liners can get as many groans as laughs. "I used to chew my nails," he says in a video clip while holding up his right stump. "It turned chronic." Eastburn is quick to point out, however, that he doesn't consider himself handicapped. In fact, his motto is No Arms, No Legs, No Handicaps. Born in North Liberty, Eastburn stands 2-feet, 10 1/2- inches tall. He wrestled for John Glenn High School. He knows tae kwon do. And don't even think about challenging him to a game of pool or darts. For the past 17 years, Eastburn has given as many as 150 motivational speeches a year through No Boundaries Inc., which he operates with his wife, Chrisa. He says his venture into stand-up comedy is just another way to get people to view him in a different way. "I'm poking fun at my situation and not myself or my limitations," Eastburn says. "I think by the end of my set, people realize that I enjoy being who I am."Staff writer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio: jbonfiglio@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6244